Southeast Bank
A privately owned commercial bank serving retail, corporate, small-business and other banking customers in Bangladesh.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Southeast Bank PLC. is a private commercial bank in Bangladesh. It was incorporated as a public limited company on March 12, 1995, received its banking licence from Bangladesh Bank on March 23 of that year, and opened its first branch in Dhaka's Dilkusha Commercial Area on May 25, 1995. M. A. Kashem is identified as the bank's founder chairman. The institution was created during a period when Bangladesh's private banking sector was expanding and has since developed a nationwide commercial-banking operation. The bank's business covers conventional banking services for individuals, businesses and institutions. Its typical activities include deposit-taking, retail banking, corporate and commercial lending, small and medium-sized enterprise finance, trade finance, remittance-related services, cards and other transaction services. The available reference material also identifies agricultural and agro-related finance as an area supported through the bank's corporate-social-responsibility activities. Its service model is therefore that of a full-service Bangladeshi commercial bank rather than a narrowly focused specialist lender. Southeast Bank's history includes several changes in senior management. Neaz Ahmed became managing director in 2004 and was reappointed in 2007. In 2009, Alamgir Kabir became chairman, Ragib Ali became vice-chairman and Mahbubul Alam was appointed managing director. Shahid Hossain became managing director in 2013. The referenced Wikipedia material identifies M. A. Kashem as chairman and Abidur Rahman Chowdhury as managing director under current charge at the time of that source's preparation; leadership details should be checked against the bank's latest official disclosures because executive appointments can change. The bank has also been subject to regulatory and legal scrutiny. Bangladesh Bank began monitoring the institution after a period of poor performance, according to the referenced account. In 2021, the central bank imposed fines related to investment exposure to National Life Insurance Company Limited and failure to reduce that exposure in accordance with banking rules. Separately, an appellate court order in 2021 halted a High Court direction concerning proposed investigations involving chairman Alamgir Kabir. In 2022, a money-loan court issued an arrest warrant for the chairman of Nurjahan Group in connection with alleged embezzlement from Southeast Bank. These matters concern regulatory compliance, governance or borrower-related risk and should not be treated as findings that the bank itself was criminally liable unless established by an authoritative final decision. Southeast Bank has maintained a public profile through financial reporting, branch expansion and social initiatives. Its first branch was in central Dhaka, and its 81st branch opened in Munshiganj in December 2011. The bank's foundation began a scholarship programme in 2009 for financially disadvantaged and academically strong students, later extending support from secondary and higher-secondary education to university, medical, engineering and agricultural institutions. In 2022, the bank reported donating 75,000 blankets to the Prime Minister's relief fund. It has also distributed special corporate-social-responsibility funds to farmers for cultivation and the purchase of agricultural machinery. Southeast Bank is listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange under the symbol SEBL. Historical reference material records a capital-adequacy ratio of 11.46 percent at December 31, 2011, against a then-applicable 10 percent requirement, and reports operating profit of Tk 5.50 billion in 2012 compared with Tk 6.05 billion in 2011. Those figures are historical and are not current measures of the bank's performance. The available sources do not provide enough verified information to describe its latest assets, earnings, branch count, ownership structure or digital-banking scale. Its present identity is best characterized as an active Bangladeshi private commercial-bank brand with retail, corporate, SME and community-oriented activities.
History
Southeast Bank was established as a public limited company on March 12, 1995. The Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms issued its certificate of commencement of business on that date. Bangladesh Bank granted the institution a banking licence on March 23, 1995, enabling it to operate as a commercial bank. Its first branch opened on May 25, 1995, at 1 Dilkusha Commercial Area in Dhaka. M. Saifur Rahman, then Bangladesh's finance minister, attended the opening as chief guest. M. A. Kashem is identified in the available reference material as the bank's founder chairman. Other figures associated with its early board and leadership included Alamgir Kabir, FCA, and Yussuf Abdullah Harun, both of whom had held senior roles in the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The bank expanded its branch network and broadened its commercial-banking activities during its early years. Its business model developed around the principal functions of a Bangladeshi private bank: collecting deposits, extending loans and advances, financing trade and businesses, and providing retail payment and other financial services. By December 2011, the bank had opened its 81st branch in Munshiganj. Historical banking information states that its capital-adequacy ratio was 11.46 percent at December 31, 2011, compared with a regulatory requirement of 10 percent at that time. Credit Rating Information and Services Limited assigned the bank an AA-minus long-term rating and an ST-2 short-term rating based on its 2010 financial statements. These historical ratings and capital figures do not describe the bank's current financial condition. Leadership changed several times as the bank matured. Neaz Ahmed became managing director in 2004 and was reappointed in 2007. In May 2009, Alamgir Kabir became chairman and Ragib Ali vice-chairman, while Mahbubul Alam was appointed managing director. The referenced account also states that Bangladesh Bank began monitoring the institution in connection with poor performance. Shahid Hossain was appointed managing director in 2013. The same source identifies M. A. Kashem as chairman and Abidur Rahman Chowdhury as managing director under current charge at the time of the source's preparation. Because the provided material does not establish the dates of all appointments or provide a current official board page, those details require verification against recent bank disclosures. Southeast Bank's public history also includes regulatory, governance and credit-related disputes. In November 2021, Bangladesh Bank fined the bank for overinvesting in National Life Insurance Company Limited in violation of banking rules and imposed an additional penalty because the investment was not reduced as required. The matter illustrates the compliance risks faced by listed commercial banks whose investment portfolios are subject to central-bank limits. In August 2021, the appellate division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court reportedly stayed a High Court order connected with proposed Anti-Corruption Commission and Bangladesh Bank investigations concerning chairman Alamgir Kabir. In September 2022, a Chattogram Money Loan Court issued an arrest warrant for the chairman of Nurjahan Group in a case alleging that Tk 2.68 billion had been embezzled from Southeast Bank. The available source does not establish the final outcome of these proceedings. The bank has maintained a social and philanthropic presence through the Southeast Bank Foundation. In 2009, the foundation began a scholarship programme for poor and meritorious students. The programme initially supported secondary-level students and later expanded to higher-secondary students and, from 2011, to students entering public universities, medical colleges, engineering universities and agricultural universities. The referenced material records 827 secondary-level scholarships, 1,263 higher-secondary scholarships and 75 scholarships for students entering higher education at the time described. The bank has also directed special corporate-social-responsibility funds to farmers for cultivation and the purchase of agricultural machinery. In November 2022, it donated 75,000 blankets to the Prime Minister's relief fund. Southeast Bank is listed in Bangladesh under the ticker SEBL. Its present activities are those of an active private commercial bank, with services spanning retail customers, corporate clients, SMEs and other institutional or business users. The supplied sources do not provide a sufficiently verified current account of assets, earnings, branch numbers, ownership, digital services or international operations. Consequently, the bank's documented historical milestones and public regulatory record can be described with confidence, while current scale and performance should be updated from official annual reports and Bangladesh securities filings.
- 2022
Relief-fund donation
[1]The bank donated 75,000 blankets to the Prime Minister's relief fund.
- 2021
Bangladesh Bank regulatory fines
[1]Bangladesh Bank fined Southeast Bank over investment exposure to National Life Insurance Company Limited and failure to reduce that exposure.
- 2013
Shahid Hossain appointed managing director
[1]Shahid Hossain was appointed managing director of the bank.
- 2011
Scholarships expand to university entrants
[1]The foundation expanded its scholarship programme to students admitted to public universities, medical colleges, engineering universities and agricultural universities.
- 2011
81st branch opens
[1]The bank opened its 81st branch in Munshiganj in December 2011.
- 2009
Scholarship programme begins
[1]The Southeast Bank Foundation launched a scholarship programme for financially disadvantaged and academically strong students.
- 2009
Board and management transition
[1]Alamgir Kabir became chairman, Ragib Ali became vice-chairman and Mahbubul Alam was appointed managing director.
- 2004
Neaz Ahmed becomes managing director
[1]Neaz Ahmed was appointed managing director and was later reappointed in 2007.
- 1995
Incorporation and commencement of business
[1]Southeast Bank was established as a public limited company on March 12, 1995, with its certificate of commencement of business issued on the same day.
- 1995
Banking licence granted
[1]Bangladesh Bank granted Southeast Bank its banking licence on March 23, 1995.
Products and positioning
A full-service private commercial bank in Bangladesh serving consumers, companies, SMEs and institutional customers.
Consumer banking
Retail banking
The bank's retail activity serves individual customers through deposit-taking, personal banking and transaction services. The supplied sources describe Southeast Bank as a full-service commercial bank, but do not identify a complete current catalogue of account types, consumer loans, digital features or fees.
Business banking
Corporate and commercial banking
Corporate and commercial banking is a core part of Southeast Bank's business scope. It supports companies and institutions through lending, deposits, trade-related services and other banking facilities. Specific current sector programmes, limits and product names are not established by the supplied reference material.
Small and medium-sized enterprise finance
SME banking
Southeast Bank provides financing and banking services for small and medium-sized enterprises. SME lending forms part of the bank's stated commercial scope, although the available sources do not provide verified details on current loan products, eligibility standards or portfolio size.
Transaction banking
Trade finance and remittance services
The bank's full-service model includes trade finance, payments and remittance-related banking activities. These services support domestic businesses and customers connected to cross-border commerce or transfers, but the supplied material does not specify correspondent networks, channels or product branding.
Agricultural banking
Agricultural finance
Agriculture is represented in the bank's social and community-finance activities. Southeast Bank has distributed special corporate-social-responsibility funds to farmers for cultivation and agricultural machinery. The sources do not establish whether this represents a separately branded commercial product line.
Controversies
2022
Nurjahan Group loan-related embezzlement case
A Chattogram Money Loan Court issued an arrest warrant for the chairman of Nurjahan Group in a case alleging embezzlement of Tk 2.68 billion from Southeast Bank. The source does not provide the final disposition.
2021
Regulatory fines over National Life Insurance investment
Bangladesh Bank fined Southeast Bank for investing beyond permitted levels in National Life Insurance Company Limited and for failing to reduce the investment as required. The reported penalties were Tk 1 million and Tk 2.1 million.
2021
Investigation-related proceedings involving Alamgir Kabir
The Bangladesh Supreme Court's appellate division reportedly halted a High Court order concerning proposed Anti-Corruption Commission and Bangladesh Bank investigations involving chairman Alamgir Kabir after his appeal. The supplied material does not establish a final finding of wrongdoing.
2021
Bangladesh Bank fines Southeast Bank for investment-limit violations
In a 2021 regulatory action, Bangladesh Bank fined Southeast Bank Tk 10 lakh over investment-limit violations. A central bank probe found that the bank's investment in National Life Insurance Company exceeded the permitted ceiling. The investigation also found that the shares had been transferred between the bank's accounts rather than actually sold. The fine was imposed for investing an excessive amount in a single company, in breach of the applicable stock rules.
2021
Bangladesh Bank fines Southeast Bank over single-stock exposure
Bangladesh Bank imposed a Tk 21.50 lakh fine on Southeast Bank after it failed to reduce its investment in a single stock to the regulatory limit. The article says the bank's investment exceeded the limit and reports that a central-bank probe found the bank had transferred shares between its own accounts rather than actually selling them.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Blanket donation to relief fund
Bangladesh
Southeast Bank donated blankets through the Prime Minister's relief fund as part of its community-support work.
Outcome. The reported donation total was 75,000 blankets.
- 2011Higher-education scholarship expansion
Bangladesh
The foundation broadened its education support to include students admitted to public universities and specialist higher-education institutions.
Outcome. The programme added scholarship support for students in public universities, medical, engineering and agricultural institutions.
- 2009Southeast Bank Foundation Scholarship Programme
Bangladesh
The Southeast Bank Foundation launched scholarships for poor and meritorious students, initially at secondary level and later at higher-secondary and tertiary levels.
Outcome. The programme was expanded to students entering public universities, medical colleges, engineering universities and agricultural universities. The referenced account records hundreds of secondary- and higher-secondary-level awards and 75 university-level awards.
- Agricultural CSR support
Bangladesh
The bank distributed special corporate-social-responsibility funds to farmers for cultivation and the purchase of agro-based machinery.
Brand decisions
2021
Regulatory response to investment-limit violationsOtherBackground
Bangladesh Bank determined that the bank had exceeded permitted investment exposure to National Life Insurance Company Limited and had not reduced the exposure as required.
Action taken
Bangladesh Bank imposed fines of Tk 1 million and Tk 2.1 million for the reported breaches.
Aftermath
The penalties placed the bank's investment compliance and regulatory controls under public scrutiny.
Regulatory fines. Tk 1 million plus Tk 2.1 million (November 2021)
2011
Expand foundation scholarships to tertiary educationStrategyBackground
The foundation's education programme had initially focused on secondary and higher-secondary students.
Action taken
The programme was extended to students admitted to public universities, medical colleges, engineering universities and agricultural universities.
Aftermath
The initiative broadened the bank's education-focused social-impact activities.
1995
Launch as a private full-service commercial bankStrategyBackground
The institution was created as a public limited company during the expansion of Bangladesh's private banking sector.
Action taken
Southeast Bank obtained a Bangladesh Bank licence and opened its first Dhaka branch, establishing a broad commercial-banking platform.
Aftermath
The bank expanded its branch network and developed retail, corporate, SME and related banking activities.
Recent events
Bangladesh Bank fines Southeast Bank over single-stock exposure[4]
Bangladesh Bank imposed a Tk 21.50 lakh fine on Southeast Bank after it failed to reduce its investment in a single stock to the regulatory limit. The article says the bank's investment exceeded the limit and reports that a central-bank probe found the bank had transferred shares between its own accounts rather than actually selling them.
Bangladesh Bank fines Southeast Bank for investment-limit violations[3]
Bangladesh Bank fined Southeast Bank Tk 10 lakh for investing an excessive amount in a single company. A central bank probe found that the bank's investment in National Life Insurance Company exceeded the permitted ceiling and that the shares had been transferred between the bank's accounts rather than actually sold.
Sources4 sources
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